Even More FDA Reports of Illness due to Chicken Jerky Treats

MSNBC.com is reporting the FDA has received 353 reports of dog illness and or death related to Chicken Jerky Treats made in China. Just last month, the FDA reported only 70 illnesses or deaths relating to the treats; a little more than a month later the total is up to 353.

It is concerning why in all of 2011 – up to November 18, 2011 – the total FDA reports of pet illnesses or deaths relating to Chicken Jerky Treats imported from China was only 70 — then a little more than a month later the total of reports increased to 353.

Are more pet parents/veterinarians reporting to the FDA because of the alert sent out in November? Or is the same percentage of reports coming into the FDA – which would mean many, many more pets are becoming ill or dying?

Let us hope that because the FDA (and the Canadian Veterinarian Association) issued a warning last month to pet parents and veterinarians, more are reporting to the FDA. Going with that line of thinking (more pet parents and veterinarians reporting illness or death believed to be related to a treat or food to the FDA), just imagine how powerful these warnings could be if only we knew of all that is being reported. If this much of an increase can happen in a little more than a month, imagine how effective an FDA warning could be to warn pet parents about other pet food related illnesses or deaths?

Please – be VERY cautious of feeding your dog a meat jerky treat (chicken or other) sourced from China. As well, Please report every incident of pet illness or death you and/or your veterinarian believes to be related to a pet food or treat to the FDA and to your State Department of Agriculture. For reports to the FDA, you can do this online using the Safety Reporting Portal. For reports to your State Department of Agriculture, ask to speak to the person in charge of pet food.

And Please – FDA – realize that your warning issued last month has vastly increased the reports of pet illness/death. Do more of these warnings! And perhaps it is time for a jerky treat recall?